By AJ Naddaff — middleeasteye.net — Lebanon’s first elections since the country was devastated by its worst-ever economic crisis have unseated household names in Lebanese politics, shifted majority blocs, and yielded a surprising breakthrough for independents. Middle East Eye takes a look at some of the elections’ most notable winners and losers.
Hezbollah-Amal’s prominent allies
While Hezbollah and their Amal Movement ally retained their dominance of Shia representation in parliament, some of their longtime Christian, Sunni and Druze allies lost their seats. The most prominent among the Hezbollah-allied unseated MPs is Talal Arslan. The Druze politician, hailing from one of Lebanon’s oldest political dynasties, was first elected in 1992. The prince of Druze Feudalism, known as the emir in Arabic, lost his seat in the Mount Lebanon IV constituency to Mark Daou, a newcomer campaigning on a reform agenda. Elie Ferzli, the longtime Greek Orthodox deputy speaker of parliament, is also a veteran MP who was defeated in the Bekaa II constituency. He lost to one of the more controversial opposition-backed candidates: Yassin Yassin. Scepticism surrounds Yassin, a millionaire who purchased some of former prime minister Saad Hariri’s old businesses yet presents himself as anti-establishment. In the north, Syria-aligned Faisal Karami, the heir of an influential political family in northern Tripoli, failed to get re-elected for a second term in parliament, although his list still won three seats. Karami’s father, Omar, served two terms as premier when Faisal was young.
New Christian majority on the block
A clear victor appears to be the nationalist Christian Lebanese Forces Party (LF), which was founded by Samir Geagea as a militia during the 15-year civil war. The group overtook the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), led by President Michel Aoun, as the largest Christian bloc in parliament. A vociferous critic of Iran-backed Hezbollah, the group is backed by Saudi Arabia and has funding from the kingdom. In celebration, the group erected an enormous billboard thanking its voters while pledging to “get rid of” Hezbollah’s highly divisive stock of weapons, although they have yet to explain how they will do so. Last year, Hezbollah and Amal accused the LF of killing seven of their supporters during a protest linked to the probe into the 2020 port explosion, an accusation that they denied. In another surprising twist, the LF snatched two seats in the Jezzine district, having had no representation in the constituency in the previous elections, dealing a blow to both the FPM and Amal who failed to reach the electoral threshold.
Sunni vacuum allows opposition entry Former prime minister Saad Hariri’s withdrawal from politics fractured Sunni representation, which was dominated by his Future Movement Party. The Sunni vote on Sunday was marked by low turnout. Many of Hariri’s supporters abstained from voting in support of their leader, a sign that he retains popularity despite his missteps and decision to leave politics. Capitalising on the vacuum left by Lebanon’s largest Sunni party and its supporters’ boycott, opposition candidates were able to snatch three seats in Beirut II, most notably: Melhem Khalaf, the former Beirut Bar Association president; Fouad Makhzoumi, a billionaire MP who retained his seat; and newcomer Ibrahim Mneimneh, an architect who ran in the 2018 elections.
In Tripoli, the largest city in northern Lebanon, Ashraf Rifi, former justice minister and ex-head of the Internal Security Forces, grabbed a seat for the first time. His LF-allied Rescue of a Nation list won a further two seats, which is notable considering that he won none in 2018. Tripoli, which has a Sunni majority and is the poorest city in Lebanon, recorded the lowest voter turnout nationwide. In Saida, the largest city in south Lebanon and Hariri’s hometown, the two Sunni seats were won by independent candidates running on the same list amid the former premier’s absence: newcomer Abdel-Rahman Bizri, a doctor, former mayor of the city and the head of Lebanon’s Covid-19 vaccination committee; and incumbent MP Oussama Maarouf Saad.
Independents crack status-quo
In contrast with the 2018 elections, where only one independent candidate won a seat, 13 independents secured representation for the now-defunct anti-establishment protest movement that swept the country in 2019. As analysts predicted, the fact that independents were split between different lists had a negative impact on the number of seats they gained. But the results have proved better than expected, revealing the first crack in the status quo’s armour.
Most notably, two independent candidates managed to penetrate a Hezbollah-Amal dominance in the South III constituency for the first time in three decades: Firas Hamdan and Elias Jrade. No one believed ‘in this part of Lebanon any change could happen’ – Elias Jrade, newly-elected MP Firas Hamdan, a lawyer who sustained a chest wound during 2020 protests, won the Druze seat in Hasbaya, beating Marwan Kheireddine, chairman of Lebanon’s AM Bank. Kheireddine was one of many that restricted depositors’ access to savings during the financial meltdown. Hamdan’s win reflected the resentment felt by many in the south regarding the banker’s candidacy. Jrade, a renowned eye doctor, unseated veteran MP Assaad Hardan of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party for the Greek Orthodox Christian seat in the South III constituency, where independents unified under the Together For Change list. “No one believed in any time that in this part of Lebanon any change could happen. We are telling them ‘this is the symbol, I gave you the torch and we hope you can continue’,” Jrade told Middle East Eye from his home in the village of Ebil al-Saqi, several hours after his win on Monday.
The most prominent independent candidate to suffer defeat was popular former investigative journalist and podcaster Jad Ghosn, who ran on a list led by the opposition party Citizens in a State (MMFD) in Mount Lebanon II. Ghosn lost to LF candidate Razi al-Haj by a mere 88 votes, to the disappointment of many Lebanese who were roused by the secular approach he advocates. Ghosn scored the second-highest number of Maronite votes in a constituency dominated by traditional parties and prominent political families. While MMFD was not able to win a seat, many are hoping the 13 independents will now bring fresh blood to a crippled system and set crises-hit Lebanon on the path of systemic reforms.
2022 winners as per the final results shared by the Ministry of Interior for the districts of Bekaa I, II & III, Mount-Lebanon I and South-Lebanon II & II. (Credit: Richard Salame and Iva Kovic)
BEIRUT — Nearly 24 hours since the official end of voting in Lebanon’s Parliamentary elections, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Monday announced the results of seven voting constituencies — South I, South II, Mount Lebanon I, Mount Lebanon III, Bekaa I, Bekaa II, and Bekaa III — making up 49 seats in Parliament.
“Despite all the difficulties and doubts, we were able to carry out the elections in a very good manner,” Mawlawi said in a press conference where he presented the results.
The elections have been plagued by allegations of improprieties in some areas, including alleged ballot tampering.
“All the problems that are being talked about, we are following up on them,” the Interior Minister said.
South I
In South I, which has five seats — two Sunni, two Maronite and one Greek Catholic — the winners were split between the “Our Unity in Saida and Jezzine” list supported by former Future Movement members and the “We Vote for Change” list of independents led by incumbent MP Oussama Saad of the Popular Nasserist Organization.
The winners are as follows:
-Ghada Khalil Ayoub, a Greek-Catholic newcomer to Parliament who ran with the Lebanese Forces on the “Our Unity in Saida and Jezzine” list supported by former Future Movement members.
-Saeed Sleiman Asmar, a Maronite newcomer to Parliament who ran with the “Our Unity in Saida and Jezzine” list.
-Abdel Rahman Bizri, an independent Sunni newcomer to Parliament known for his role as the former mayor of Saida and the head of Lebanon’s COVID-19 vaccination committee, who ran with the “We Vote for Change” list.
-Charbel Maroun Masaad, an independent Maronite newcomer to Parliament who ran with the “We Vote for Change” list.
-Oussama Maarouf Saad, a Sunni incumbent with the Popular Nasserist Organization party who ran with the “We Vote for Change” list.
South II
In South II, considered a political base of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the “Hope and Loyalty” list supported by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah won a clean sweep of all seven seats: six Shiite and one Greek Catholic. The constituency is divided between the Sour and Zahrani districts.
The winners are as follows for Sour:
-Ali Khreis, an incumbent Shiite MP for Amal.
-Inaya Ezzedine, an incumbent Shiite MP for Amal one of the few female MPs in the 2018 Parliament and the only female MP for the Amal Movement.
-Hussein Jashi, an incumbent Shiite MP for Hezbollah.
-Hassan Ezzeddine, a Shiite newcomer to Parliament for Hezbollah.
The winners are as follows for Zahrani:
-Nabih Berri, an incumbent Shiite MP for Amal, which he heads. He has been Speaker of Parliament since 1992.
-Ali Osseiran, an incumbent Shiite MP for Amal.
-Michel Moussa, an incumbent Greek Catholic MP who caucuses with Amal.
Mount Lebanon I
Mount Lebanon I is expected to be a battleground between the Free Patriotic Movement and Lebanese Forces, both parties wound up with two seats each. The constituency, comprising Kesrouan and Jbeil districts, is composed of seven Maronite seats and one Shiite, which a Hezbollah-backed candidate won.
The winners are as follows for Kesrouan:
-Nada Boustany, a former energy minister under Saad Hariri’s 2019-2020 government, who won one of the Maronite seats for the Free Patriotic Movement, who ran with the “We were and Will Remain” list.
-Neemat Frem, a Maronite who won a seat in the 2018 parliament before resigning after the Aug. 4, 2020 Beirut port explosion who ran with the “Cry of the Nation” list
-Chawki Daccache, a Maronite incumbent MP for the Lebanese Forces who ran with the “With You We Can All the Way” list
-Salim Sayegh, a Maronite newcomer MP for the Kataeb party who ran with the “Cry of the Nation” list. He served as Social Affairs Minister in Saad Hariri’s 2009-2011 government.
-Farid Jean Heiykal el Khazen, a Maronite incumbent MP without party affiliation who caucused with the Marada Movement in the 2018 Parliament. He ran with “The independent heart of Lebanon” list.
The winners are as follows for Jbeil:
-Ziad Hawat, a Maronite incumbent MP for the Lebanese Forces, ran with the “With You We Can All the Way” list. He is the former Mayor of Byblos (2010-2016).
-Simon Farid Abi Ramiaa Maronite incumbent MP for the Free Patriotic Movement, who ran with the “We were and Will Remain” list.
-Raed Berro, won the Shiite seat for the Free Patriotic Movement, and ran with the “We were and Will Remain” list.
Mount Lebanon III
In Baabda, there was also a battle between the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement which includes a big number of Shiite voters.
The winners are as follows:
-Alain Aoun, a Maronite incumbent with the Free Patriotic Movement who ran with “The National Accord List,” supported by the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal-Hezbollah tandem.
-Pierre Bou Assi, a Maronite incumbent with the Lebanese Forces who ran with the “Baabda, Sovereignty and Decision” list, supported by the Progressive Socialist Party and the Lebanese Forces.
-Camille Dory Chamoun, a Maronite newcomer to Parliament with the Lebanese Forces, who ran with the “Baabda, Sovereignty and Decision” list, supported by the Progressive Socialist Party and the Lebanese Forces.
-Ali Ammar, a Shiite incumbent with Hezbollah who ran with “The National Accord List,” supported by the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal-Hezbollah tandem.
-Fadi Alameh, a Shiite incumbent with Amal who ran with “The National Accord List,” supported by the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal-Hezbollah tandem.
-Hadi Abou el-Hassan, a Druze incumbent with Progressive Socialist Party who ran with the “Baabda, Sovereignty and Decision” list, supported by the Progressive Socialist Party and the Lebanese Forces.
Bekaa I
Bekaa I, which consists of the town of Zahle, is composed of seven seats: two Greek Catholic, one Greek Orthodox, one Maronite, one Armenian Orthodox, one Sunni and one Shiite.
The winners are as follows:
-Michel Daher, an incumbent, independent, MP who won a Greek Catholic seat running with the “Independent Sovereignists” list. He was a member of Free Patriotic Movement’s parliamentary bloc after the 2018 elections.
-George Boujikian, the current Industry Minister, who won the Armenian Orthodox seat for the Tashnag Party with the “Zahle the Message” list supported by Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
-Rami Abu Hamdan, another newcomer to Parliament, who won the Shiite seat for Hezbollah with the “Zahle the Message” list .
-Salim Aoun, an incumbent Maronite MP for the Free Patriotic Movement, with the “Zahle the Message” list .
-Bilal al-Hashimi, a Future Movement-affiliated newcomer to Parliament who won the Sunni seat with the “Zahle the Sovereign” list supported by the Lebanese Forces.
-Elias Estefan, another new member of Parliament who won a Greek Orthodox seat for the Lebanese Forces with the “Zahle the Sovereign” list.
-George Okais, an incumbent MP for the Lebanese Forces who won a Greek Catholic seat with the “Zahle the Sovereign” list.
Bekaa II
Bekaa II, which includes the western Bekaa and Rachaya districts, consists of six seats: two Sunni, one Shiite, one Druze, one Maronite and one Greek Orthodox. Elie Ferzli, the deputy speaker of the Parliament, fell to a shock loss in this constituency.
The winners are as follows:
-Yassin Yassin, an opposition candidate for the “Sahlouna wal Jabal” list who will enter Parliament for the first time, holding one of the Sunni seats.
-Charbel Maroun, a Maronite, Free Patriotic Movement candidate for the “A Better Tomorrow” list.
-Hassan Mrad, a Sunni candidate for the “A Better Tomorrow” list and another Parliamentary newcomer.
-Qablan Qabalan, a Shiite candidate for the “A Better Tomorrow” list, who is affiliated with Amal.
-Ghassan Skaff, a Greek Orthodox candidate for “The National Decision” list supported by the Progressive Socialist Party and former Future Movement figures. Skaff is another new parliamentarian.
-Wael Abu Faour, an incumbent Druze MP for the Progressive Socialist Party, who ran with “The National Decision” list.
Bekaa III
The Bekaa III constituency, which consists of the northeastern Baalbek-Hermel governorate, includes ten seats: six Shiite, two Sunni, one Maronite and one Greek Catholic. It is considered a political base for Hezbollah, whose list sweeped nine of ten available seats, while the party’s archrivals, the Lebanese Forces, won the remaining one.
The winners are as follows:
-Hussein Hajj Hasan, an incumbent Shiite MP for Hezbollah, who ran with Hezbollah and Amal’s “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Ali Miqdad, an incumbent Shiite MP for Hezbollah who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Ibrahim Moussawi, an incumbent Shiite MP for Hezbollah who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Ihab Hamadeh, an incumbent Shiite MP for Hezbollah who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Ghazi Zeaiter, an incumbent Shiite MP for Amal who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Jamil al-Sayyed, an incumbent Shiite parliamentarian close to Hezbollah and Amal but independent of both parties, and former head of General Security who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Samer Asaad el-Tom, a Greek Catholic candidate backed by the Free Patriotic Movement who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Yanal Solh, one of the candidates for the two Sunni seats in Bekaa III who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Melhem Hojeiri, another one of the candidates for the two Sunni seats in the constituency who ran with the “Hope and Loyalty” list.
-Antoine Habchi, an incumbent MP for the Lebanese Forces, who ran with their “Building the State” list.
